Ridge grinder for engine cylinders



NOV. 17,1953 s, BURKHQLbER 2,659,186

RIDGE GRINDER FOR ENGINE CYLINDERS Filed NOV. 17, 1949 2 Sheets- Sheet l 72 4 v I. 5a FIG3 FIGI 9b INVENTOR MELVIN s. BURKHOLDER 'ia/w QZ/M v42 mvoanavs Nov. 17, 1953 M. s. BURKHOLDER RIDGE GRINDER FOR ENGINE CYLINDERS Filed Nov. 1'7, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I01 I as I m: -n I37 INVENTOR MELVIN S. BURKHOLDER 6 W W ATTOREYS llHi Patented Nov. 17, 1953 RIDGE GRINDER FOR ENGINE CYLINDERS Melvin S. Burkholder, Beaverdam, Ohio, assignor of one-half to koneta, Ohio Wilbur Glenn Hardy, Wapa- Application November 17, 1949, Serial N 0. 127,939

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of grinding metals to predetermined contours. More particularly, it relates to the grinding of cylinder walls.

Still more particularly, it relates to apparatus for grinding circumferential ridges from engine cylinders.

Reciprocation of pistons in cylinders causes wear on those portions of the cylinder walls contacted by the piston rings. By the tim that it is necessary to replace worn piston rings, a ridge of unworn cylinder wall remains at the top of the cylinder.-

In those cylinders where the pistons are inserted from the top it is often necessary to grind away the ridge in order to get the piston out of the cylinder. In cylinders where the pistons need not be removed fromthe top, it nevertheless is necessary to remove the ridge, because new rings are wider than the replaced rings and movement of the piston to the top of the cylinder brings the rings into engagement with this ridge. The repeated and sudden contraction of the rings as they snap over the ridge results in an early ring breakage.

Cylinder reamers currently in use rework the upper end of the cylinder wall to a round contour. This results, due to the eccentricity of the worn cylinder, in the ridge remaining on a, portion of the wall and an undercutting of other portions of the cylinder wall, or, if all the ridges are removed, in a marked undercutting of portions of the cylinder.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages and shortcomings of apparatus heretofore utilized.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means for grinding off the entire ridge worn on cylinders without undercutting any portion of the cylinder wall.

It is a further object to provide means for grinding cylinder Walls to a smooth contour longitudinally.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a portable grinding mechanism which may be quickly mounted within a cylinder in I grinding position.

It is still another object of this invention to provide apparatus which does not require accurate centering of the grinding equipment.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a mounting for the grinding mechanism whereby the tool quickly traverses areas requiring no grinding.

It is another object of this invention to provide an apparatus which may be mounted substantially in the cylinder with the power mechanism separate therefrom in order to get at inaccessible rear cylinders.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description given in connection with the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the top of the apparatus of Figure 1 taken at right angles thereto;

. Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view along the center line of the spindle;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the grinder mechanism;

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention;

Figure '7 is a top plan view of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is an elevational view showing a further embodiment of the invention having a tensioning leaf spring; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged view partially in section of a portion of Figure 6.

In brief, grinding of ridges in accordance with the instant invention is carried out by abrading the raised portion of the cylinder wall with a small diameter grinding wheel whose contact with the cylinder wall is governed by a'cam action spaced from the grinder so as to contact the cylinder wall in that portion whose contour it is desirable to reproduce longitudinally.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1 thereof, wherein the apparatus of this invention is shown as seated in a narrow cylinder, there is illustrated a support column Hi mounted on an expanding foot mechanism l I. Supported upon column in is a grinding mechanism I2, the details of whos mounting will be explained in conjunction with other figures.

The expanding foot mechanism ll consists of two plates l3 and I4 having upwardly extending axial projections l5 and I5, respectively. Plates i3 and I4 are'both axially bored, the bore of plate It being threaded as at IT to receive the bottom threaded end of a spindle l8.

Spindle I8 is provided at its opposite end with a hexagonal Or other suitably shaped head.

-Plates l3 and I4 are provided, as shown in Figure 2, with corresponding circumferentially spaced slots 20. Adjacent the slots 20, plates I3 and I4 are segmentally bored as at 2|. An end wall 22 separating the slots 20 and 2| is provided with bores as at 23 which are threaded as at 24.

Each of the threaded bores 23 is adapted to a.) respectively receive one of the threaded portions of pins 25, whose smooth portions 26 projecting into slots 20, constitute pivots for cross links 21.

One of the links 27 is pivotally mounted by said pins 25 on plate l3, while the other link 21 is similarly pivotably mounted on plate I4. The links 21 are crossed and pivoted to each other by suitable pivot pins 28.

Surrounding; the projection IE of plate I4 and extending into contact with the inner faces of plates l3 and I4 is mounted suitable resilient means 29 such as a flexible spring. 1

The plate I3 is prevented fromaxialumovement along spindle l8 by a collar 30 fixedly positioned on the spindle I8 by pin 3|.

Surrounding the spindle I 8 and shown resting on the collar 30, although such supporting contact is unnecessary, is a sleeve; 32 positionable on said spindle for vertical adjustment by a setscrew 33. Sleeve 32 is externally threaded as at 34.

Suitable means 35, such as a knurled nut, threadedly engages threads 34 to-provide-a -fine adjustment vertically for a grinder support frame 36 resting in contact therewith. It will thus be seen thatelements Bi -Maud e? form a portion of a'tubularstructure surrounding the spindle IB.

Support frame 38 consists of a block-3'1 provided-with I atransverse-sleeve 38. The sleeve or tubular member 38 is adapted for sliding fit with the spindle l8. -Block-31- is provided at each side with'guide shoulders-I9 and 4! On opposite sides of the block 31 there are provided parallel arms 4| and 42 adapted with recesses 43 and in which are positioned-guides 39 and 4t. A screw 45 engaging the armsedt and" provides the meansof locking said'arms in any position on the block.

-At the oppositeend of arms and 3Zthere is secured between the arms; by means allowing for pivoting action such as screws &5, a quill 41. Quill-14T- supportsa hollow rotatable shaft '48 by means of ball bearings 49 audio, whose races 5! and 52 are mounted at eachendof the quill and retained therein byretainer plates 53 and '54.

Adjustment of the ball bearingsi n the quillds secured by a nut 59b;

The shaft 48 extends below the quill fl and is provided at its lower end with a suitable grinding wheel iS-held in position-by a lccking'nut" 56.

Theupper-end of the shaft 48- is externally threaded .asxat 51.. Thisupper/portion of the shaftwtd carries a suitable pulley 58 of one or more steps fixed; to the shaft: by suitable locking meansqasby being secured between locking nuts 5awandz.59b..

Attached; to. the outside or the: .quill' 41" by suitable-means Blhsuch; asmachine screws,.is a depending: armw'fi l having: a'transversel'y angled foot 62. Footfit israpertured as at 63: and adapted to receive a'post64.

Post 64? is-axially mounted within shaft '48. The; post,- is adapted vforzlocse sliding: fit: therein and isprovi'ded. adjacent its lower end: with a shoulder-'eaadapted to contact the foot 62. A portion Bibi the post. is threaded as at B1 and extends beyond the shoulder .65: through the aperture 63 in foot-62.. This: threaded' projectionreeeivesacam 6% which is locked in positionby a locking nut .69.

At its upper endgtherpostr 64 is: threaded-and is adapted. to; receive aknnrlednut" or other suitable meansrior adjusting. the guide cam '68.

,In this embodiment of the I invention 'it is intendedthat the driving connection be made between pulley "58 and a pulley 10 mounted on ratus; it wili be recognized that small fractional horsepower electric motors could be substituted for and mounted in place of the quill arrangement described.

To eliminate the ridge it is necessary to move 1 the 'grindingunit through a 360 horizontal path.

Rotation .of the grinding unit I2 is effected through a friction drive. To accomplish this, pulley I0 is provided with an annular internal collar 112 of suitable frictionmater'ial, such as hard fiber, micarta, Bakelite resin, and the like.

The collar I12 is prevented from rotating independen-tly of pulley I0 by'screws I3. Thespeed of rotation'of the mounting for the grinding unit is governed by the adjustment of set screw 14 which forces the friction collar into engagement with the sleeve 38.

In the use of this equipment, the mount for the grinding unit and the pulley I0 areremove'd from the topof spindle I8. The foot with retracted links is inserted into a cylinder, as indicated by the dash-dotlines of Figure l.

The links are moved outwardlyto engage the walls of the cylinder by turning the spindle l8 by'means of a wrench engaging the hexagonal head of said spindle [8, while a punch fitting in holes H prevents the plate I3 from turning.

It will be apparentat'once that no attempt" is made to accurately center the spindle [8. When the spindle H! is securely fixed, the mount for the grinding unit and pulley I0 are returned to position atop saidsp-indle.

Pulley projection I2 is connected to a source'of power through a flexible shaft and the pulley'58 by'means' of spring belt I I.

The quill is then positionedradially from spiridle I8 by'm-eans'of arms' tt and The exact position will be dependent upon the configuration of thegrind-ing wheel'and the particular camradius'being usedinconjunction therewith.

As the grinding wheel cutsinto the cylinder wall its depth of cut is limited by the cam to that which makes the wall smooth longitudinallyof the cylinder.

To insure thatthe cam will always have the most extended position, a leaf spring I42 as shown in Figure 8 maybe carried by a connecting'member between arms 4| and 42, which will engage the quill fl below the pivot screws'46'and thus urge the cam 3-8 toward engagement with the cylinder wall.

In Figures 6 and'l there is shown amodi'fied arrangement, altering somewhat the mode of operation.

In Figure 6 the unit is positioned'by'a foot bular member I04 is provided adjacent its upper end with a knurled lateral extension or knob I which may be used to rotate the tubular member I04. The tubular member I04 is counterbored and threaded at I06 to receive the threaded portion of a collar I01, which collar retains stirrup I08 secured about tubular member I04 from longitudinal movement; this arrangement permits the collar I01 and tubular member I04 to be rotated together while the member I00 and stirrup I08 remain stationary. When the stirrup I08 is moved in a longitudinal direction by means hereinafter described the contact of collar I01 with stirrup I08 permits the longitudinal movement of tubular member I04 and the equipment mounted thereon with the stirrup I08.

Releasably mounted. on one side of tubular member I04 and transverse thereto is a small electric motor IIO provided with a flexible shaft II I for transmission of rotative power to a shaft I I2 supported in a quill I mounted in a housing or mounting II8, which housing extends transverse to the tubular member I04. This housing may be a casting or suitably prefabricated unit.

. Releasably attached to the lower end of shaft II2 by suitable means IIB, such as screws, is an abrading wheel II1 of suitable configuration. Shaft H2 is supported by ball bearings II3 and I I4 having their races mounted in quill I I5. At its upper end quill II5 contacts a resilient means II9, such as a spring, which urges the.

quill into an extended position.

A screw I mounted in quill I I5 and having its head slidable in a slot I2I of casting H8 limits the movement of said quill Quill H5 has a lug I24 either formed integral therewith or joined thereto by suitable means.

Lug I24 is axially bored and threaded at I25 to receive a threaded screw I28. Screw I20 is tipped to provide a guide finger or needle cam for contacting a cylinder wall.

Adjustment of the needle cam is obtained through a flexible shaft I21. The flexible shaft I21 connects the screw with a small rotatable rod I 28. This rod is mounted in a casting I29 mounted on tubular member I04.

Rod I28 is provided with a shoulder I30 which limits its longitudinal motion in casting I29. Rod I28 is also provided at the end opposite its connection with the flexible shaft I21 with a knurled head I3I for manual operation.

' Adjacent the top of spindle I00 there is mounted, by means of a set screw I32, a collar I33. Collar I33 is provided With a radially extending arm I30 which terminates in a tubular member I85. Member I35 is adapted to serve as a bearing for pivot rod -I 38.

Rod I36 serves as a fixed pivot point for handle I31. Handle I31 is bifurcated with the arms passing on opposite sides of the spindle I00. The arms of the handle I31 are bored in alignment with the horizontal transverse axis of the spindle as at I38 and I38. I

The apertures I38 and I39 are adapted to receive pins I40 and MI which pass through the upstanding legs of stirrup I08 and form the pivot whereby the tubular member and all members mounted thereon may be raised or lowered. Thus as shown in a broken-away View in Figure 9the stirrup I08 when raised by the application of a force to the handle (I31) engages the collar I51 moving the same upwardly; as collar I01 is threaded at I05 to tubular member I04 the latter and the equipment mounted thereon are raised with the collar I01 and the stirrup I08 as noted til 6v hereinbefore. Also as may be seen in Figure 9 a twisting motion applied to knob I05 will permit the tubular member I04 and the collar I01 threaded therein to rotate with respect to the stirrup I08.

The apparatus it will be immediately recognized is adapted for manual adjustment for depth of cut and manual manipulation in both the horizontal and vertical directions.

Additional alternative features which may be embodied, for example, in the apparatus of Figure 1, is the driving of shaft 48 directly by means of a flexible shaft or the substitution of a small fractional horsepower electric motor in place of quill 41.

In the event of direct drive to shaft 64 the pulley and friction drive would function solely for turning the grinding apparatus mounting in a circular path.

It will be seen from a study of Figure 1 that belt H is a means urging the pivoting of the quill about the pivot 45 and thus bringing the cam 68 and grinding wheel 55 into engagement with the cylinder wall.

In order to provide for a more continuous application of pressure and less chattering, the spring mount described earlier is preferred in order to maintain the angularity of the quillto the wall being abraded.

While the method and apparatus disclosed and described herein illustrate a preferred formof invention, yet it will be understood that modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that modifications that fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included herein.

I claim:

1. In an engine cylinder grinding machine, in combination, a spindle having an expansible foot at one end thereof, a tubular structure surround-' ing a central portion of the spindle slidable longitudinally thereon and in rotational engagement therewith, a mounting supported on and extending transversely to and beyond said tubular structure at said central portion of said spindle, said mounting being movable longitudinally with respect to said spindle, a grinding unit pivotally supported on said mounting and extending parallel with said spindle, said grinding unit comprising a quill, a shaft rotatably mounted in said quill and extending therefrom, a grinding wheel on the lower end of said shaft, and guide means supported from said quill and positioned below said grinding wheel in spaced vertical relation therewith, spring means positioned above the said grinding wheel retained on the mounting and engaging between the said quill and trans verse mounting and resiliently urging the said quill, shaft and grinding wheel into an extended position outwardly from said spindle, and means secured to said tubular structure above said mounting for moving said mounting and tubular structure in paths about said spindle.

2. In an engine cylinder grinding machine, in combination, a spindle having an expansible foot at a lower end thereof, a tubular structure surrounding a' central portion of the spindle slidable longitudinally thereon and in rotational engagement therewith, a mounting secured on and extending transversely to and beyond said tubular structure at said central portion of said spindle, said mounting being movable longitudinally on said structure with respect to said spindle, a grinding unit supported on said mounting, said grinding unit comprising a quill, a shaft rotatably mounted in said quill and extending 7. therefrom, a" grinding wheel: on the lowerend of said shaft, and guide means supported" from said quill and positionedbelow' said grinding wheelin spaced vertical relation therewith, spring means positioned above the said grinding wheel retained on the mo'untin'g" and engaging between the saidquill and mounting and urging the said' grinding wheel into an extended-position out wardly from said spindle, means secured tosaid tubular structure above said mounting for moving said mounting and tubular structure-in sub stantially circular paths about said spindle, and means secured to said shaft of saidgrinding unit ior'driving said-grinding wheel in rotation.

3. In an engine cylinder grinding machine, in combination, a spindle having an expansible foot ata lower end thereof, a tubular structure sur-' rounding a central portion of the spindle in slid-'- ing engagement therewith, a mounting secured on and extending transversely to and beyond said tubular structure at said central portion or said Spindle, a grinding unit supported on said-mounting, said grinding unit comprising a quill, a'shaft rotatably mounted in said quill and extending therefrom, a grinding wheel on the lower end? of said shaft, and guide means supported from said quill and positioned below said grinding wheel in spaced vertical relation therewith, spring means positioned above the said grinding wheel in said mounting and engaging the said quill and urging the said grinding wheel into an extended position outwardly from said spindle, knob means secured to said tubular structure above said mounting for moving said mounting and tubular structure in substantially circular paths about said spindle, an electric motor'secure'd td said tubular structure above said grinding unit, and a flexible shaitconnectin'g- "said 'rnetorand shaft ef said grinding unitfor driving sai'd shaft and grinding wheel in rotation.

4-. In an eng'ine cylinder grindingniaehine, combination-"a; spindle" having an eitpansi-ble foot at'a lower end thereof, a tubular structure surrounding a central portion of the spindle in sliding' engagement therewith, a mounting-secured supported. from said quill and positioned below said. grinding wheel in spaced vertical relation therewith, spring means positioned above the said grinding wheel secured to the said mounting engaging between thesaid' quill and mounting and resiliently urging" the said grinding wheel into an extended position outwardly from said spindle, and means secured to said tubular structure above said mounting for moving said mounting and tubular'structure in substantially circular paths aboutsaid spindle.

5. In an engine cylinder grinding machine, in combination, a spindle having an expansible foot at a lower end thereof, a tubular structure surrounding a central portion of the spindle in sliding engagement therewith, a mounting secured on and extending transversely to and beyond said til spindle; a stirrup'seoured to an upperend -portien of said tubular structure, handle means-secured to said'stirrupforslidni'gsaid stirrup and; tubular structure on" saids'pindl'e, a g'ri'nd'ing units'up ported on said mounting, said grinding'unit; coniprising a" quill, a shaft rotatably" mounted iri said quill and extendingtherefrom, a grindingwh'eel on the lower end of said shaft, and guid'ernans supported from said 'quill and'positioned perow said grindingwhe'el in spaced vertical relation therewith, spring 'inea ns positioned above the said grinding wheel in said mounting and engag ing the said quill and urging th'ds'aid grinding wheel into an'extendedposition outwardly from? said spindle, knob" means secured to saidtlibiilar structure above said moi'inti'ng from moving saidmounting' and tubular structure in substantially circular paths about the said spindle:

6. In an engine cylinder-grinding inachineih combination, a spindle having" an expansible foot at a lower end thereof, a tubular structure sur rounding a central portion of the spindle'ir1 engagern'ent' therewith, a; mounting secured on and extending transversely to and beydnd'said'tubular structure at said central portion of saidspi ndle, an externally threaded sleeve securedt'o said spindle below said tubular structurega nutt'hread edly engaging said sleeve and in engagemenuwith a lower end portion of said tubular structure for sliding the same on said spindlda grinding supported on said mounting, said grinding unit comprising a quill, a shaft rotatably mounted in said quill and extending therefrom, a; grinding wheel on the lower end of said shaft, and guide means supported from said quill and positioned below said grinding wheel in spaced vertical relation therewith, spring means positioned above the said grinding wheel and contacting the said'gri'nd-- ing unit and urging the said "grinding wheel-into an extended position outwardly from said spindle, and means secured to said tubular structure for moving said mounting in substantially erredl-ar paths' about said spindle. v I

MELVINS. BURKHOLDER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,080,375 Senderling -11 Dec. 2, 1913 1,855,528 Onsrud 1 Apr. 26, 1932 1,973,264 Morris '1 1 Sept. 1:1;1934 1,980,288 Olson Nov. 13, 1934 2,031,357 Barrett Feb. 18 1936 2,257,619 Frill-11"-- Sept. 30, 1941- 2,304,405 Green 1 Dec-. 8,1942 2,403,363 Hanson July 2, 1946 2,448,100 Kruse Aug. 31, 1948 2,521,210 Fulmer -1 Sept. 5, 1950 2,528,043 Dolmage Oct. 31, 1950 2,528,195 Merrill Oct; 31', 1950 2,541,412 Frost "Feb; 13, 1951 2,546,490 Baldwin Mar. 27,- 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 296,782 Germany Mar. 5,1917 339,675 Germany Aug. 1, 1921 918,196 France Oct. 14 1946' 

